User interface support apparatus and method

Abstract

A user interface support system and method. The user interface support system of the present invention includes a UI support module provided in a household electric appliance, for supporting UIs through input/output modules depending on the conditions of respective users; and an external UI support module provided in a web server or home server connected to the UI support module through a wired/wireless communication network, for managing the input/output modules depending on the conditions of the respective users transmitted through the UI support module and providing an input/output module requested by the UI support module.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A user interface (UI) support apparatus, comprising: 
 a UI support module operable to store input/output modules as stored input/output modules, wherein the stored input/output modules are selected corresponding to conditions of respective users, in an input/output module storing unit, operable to search the input/output module storing unit for a specific input/output module of one of the respective users, operable to execute the specific input/output module, and operable to support a UI meeting a condition of the one of the respective users.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the UI support module comprises: 
 said input/output module storing unit storing and managing the input/output module;    an input/output module selecting unit for searching for the specific input/output module meeting the condition of the one of the respective users in the input/output module storing unit to provide a searched input/output module;    an input/output module executing unit for executing the searched input/output module searched for by the input/output module selecting unit; and    an input/output processing unit for processing the UI processed in the searched input/output module executed at the input/output module executing unit to output the UI on a first screen.    
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the UI support module further comprises a data processing unit for receiving and processing data necessary for generation and processing of the UI, said data being generated from an appliance that requests the specific input/output module.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the UI support module further comprises a data format determining unit for determining whether the searched input/output module provided by the input/output module selecting unit can process a type of data of the UI support module, through a table where the input/output modules and data formats that can be processed in respective input/output modules of the table are mapped.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the input/output module storing unit comprises a mapping table comprising storage areas of input/output module IDs and the stored input/output modules.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the input/output module selecting unit comprises a mapping table comprising condition IDs and input/output module IDs.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the input/output processing unit transmits the UI to a remote device with a second screen.  
     
     
         8 . A user interface (UI) support apparatus, comprising: 
 an external UI support module provided in a web server or a home server, operable to receive and store input/output modules corresponding to conditions of respective users, operable to search for a specific input/output module for one of the respective users requested through a household appliance and to provide a searched input/output module to the household appliance, and operable to support a UI meeting a condition of the one of the respective users in the household appliance.    
     
     
         9 . The user interface (UI) support apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the external UI support module comprises: 
 an external input/output module storing unit for storing the input/output modules that provide relevant UIs depending on the conditions of the respective user; and    an external input/output module selecting unit for searching the external input/output module storing unit for the specific input/output module corresponding to the condition of the one of the respective users requested by the household appliance, and providing a searched input/output module to the household appliance.    
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the external UI support module further comprises a data format determining unit for determining whether the searched input/output module provided by the external input/output module selecting unit can process a type of data of the external UI support module, through a table where the input/output modules and data formats that can be processed in respective input/output modules of the table are mapped.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the external input/output module storing unit comprises a mapping table comprising storage areas of input/output module IDs and the stored input/output modules.  
     
     
         12 . The user interface support apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the external input/output module selecting unit comprises a mapping table comprising condition IDs and input/output module IDs.  
     
     
         13 . A user interface (UI) support system, comprising: 
 an internal UI support module provided in a household appliance, for supporting UIs through input/output modules depending on conditions of respective user; and    an external UI support module provided in a web server or a home server connected to the internal UI support module through a wired/wireless communication network, for managing the input/output modules depending on the conditions of the respective users transmitted through the internal UI support module and providing a specific input/output module requested by the internal UI support module.    
     
     
         14 . The system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the internal UI support module comprises: 
 an input/output module storing unit for storing and managing the input/output modules;    an input/output module selecting unit for searching the input/output module storing unit for the specific internal input/output module meeting a condition of one of the respective users to provide a searched input/output module;    an input/output module executing unit for executing the searched input/output module searched for by the input/output module selecting unit;    a data processing unit for receiving and processing data necessary for generation and processing of the UI, said data being generated from the household appliance that requests the input/output module; and    an input/output processing unit for processing the UI processed in the searched input/output module executed at the input/output module executing unit to output the UI on a first screen.    
     
     
         15 . The system as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the input/output module storing unit comprises a mapping table comprising storage areas of input/output module IDs and the input/output module.  
     
     
         16 . The system as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the input/output module selecting unit includes a mapping table comprising condition IDs and input/output module IDs.  
     
     
         17 . The system as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the input/output processing unit transmits the UI to a remote device with a second screen.  
     
     
         18 . The system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the external UI support module comprises: 
 an external input/output module storing unit for storing the input/output modules that provide relevant UIs depending on the conditions of the respective users; and    an external input/output module selecting unit for searching the external input/output module storing unit for the specific input/output module corresponding to the condition of the one of the respective users requested by the household appliance and providing a searched input/output module to the household appliance.    
     
     
         19 . The system as claimed in  claim 18 , the external UI support module further comprises a data format determining unit for determining whether the searched input/output module provided by the external input/output module selecting unit can process a type of data of the external UI support module, through a table where the input/output modules and data formats that can be processed in respective input/output modules of the table are mapped.  
     
     
         20 . The system as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the external input/output module storing unit comprises a mapping table comprising storage areas of input/output module IDs and input/output modules.  
     
     
         21 . The system as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the external input/output module selecting unit comprises a mapping table comprising condition IDs and input/output module IDs.  
     
     
         22 . A user interface (UI) support method, comprising: 
 an input/output module registering operation of receiving input/output modules meeting conditions of respective users as received input/output modules and registering the received input/output modules in an internal input/output module selecting unit of an internal UI support module;    an input/output module providing operation of, if a first specific input/output module of one of the respective users is requested through the internal UI support module, searching for and providing the first specific input/output module as a provided input/output module; and    a UI support operation for executing the provided input/output module and supporting a UI meeting the condition of the one of the respective users through the provided input/output module.    
     
     
         23 . The method as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the input/output module registering operation comprises: 
 selecting a second specific input/output module for generating a UI to be used in the future by the one of the respective users, as a selected input/output module;    determining whether the selected input/output module is present in an internal input/output module storing unit of the internal UI support module;    if the selected input/output module is present, writing a condition ID of the one of the respective users and information on the selected input/output module in the internal input/output module selecting unit; and    if the selected input/output module is not present, requesting the selected input/output module through an external UI support module, determining whether the selected input/output module is present in an external input/output module storing unit of the external UI support module, and if the selected input/output module is present, writing the condition ID of the one of the respective users and the information on the selected input/output module in the internal input/output module selecting unit.    
     
     
         24 . The method as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the operation of writing comprises writing the condition ID of the one of the respective users and the information on the selected input/output module in an external input/output module selecting unit.  
     
     
         25 . The method as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein if the selected input/output module is not present, storing a supplied input/output module in the external input/output module storing unit, and writing the condition ID of the one of the respective users and the information on the supplied input/output module in the internal input/output module selecting unit and the external input/output module selecting unit.  
     
     
         26 . The method as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the input/output module providing operation comprises: 
 receiving a condition ID from the one of the respective users and determining whether the condition ID has been registered through the internal input/output module selecting unit;    if the condition ID has been registered, selecting the first specific input/output module according to the condition ID and providing the UI meeting the condition of the one of the respective users; and    if the condition ID has not been registered, requesting an external UI support module to transmit the first specific input/output module according to the condition ID and providing the UI meeting the condition of the one of the respective users through the input/output module provided by the external UI support module.    
     
     
         27 . The method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the operation of providing the UI meeting the condition of the one of the respective users through the input/output module provided by the external UI support module comprises: 
 determining whether the first specific input/output module corresponding to the condition ID is present by an external input/output module selecting unit of the external UI support module;    if it is determined that the first specific input/output module corresponding to the condition ID is not present, providing the UI through a default input/output module; and    if it is determined that the first specific input/output module corresponding to the condition ID is present, determining, by a data format determining unit, whether the first specific input/output module is compatible with an appliance requesting the first specific input/output module, and providing the UI through the default input/output module if it is determined that the first specific input/output module is not compatible with the appliance, or providing the UI through the first specific input/output module if it is determined that the input/output module is compatible with the appliance.    
     
     
         28 . A user interface support method, comprising: 
 if an input/output module corresponding to a specific condition ID is requested by a UI support module provided in a household electric appliance, searching for the input/output module corresponding to the condition ID through an external input/output module storing unit; and    if the input/output module corresponding to the condition ID is found as a searched input/output module, providing, by an external input/output module selecting unit, the searched input/output module to the UI support module of the household appliance.    
     
     
         29 . The method as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the operation of providing the searched input/output module comprises determining, by a data format determining unit, whether the searched input/output module is compatible with the household appliance, and providing a default input/output module if the searched input/output module is not compatible with the household appliance, or providing the searched input/output module if the searched input/output module is compatible with the household appliance.  
     
     
         30 . A user interface (UI) support method, comprising: 
 receiving input/output modules meeting conditions of respective users as received input/output modules and registering the received input/output modules in an input/output module selecting unit of an internal UI support module;    if a specific input/output module of one of the respective users is requested through the internal UI support module, determining whether the input/output module is present in an input/output module storing unit; and    if the specific input/output module is present in the input/output module storing unit, providing a UI meeting the condition of the one of the respective users through the specific input/output module, or if the specific input/output module is not present in the input/output module storing unit, requesting an external input/output module storing unit provided in an external server at a remote place to transmit the specific input/output module as a transmitted input/output module and providing the UI meeting the condition of the one of the respective users through the transmitted input/output module.    
     
     
         31 . The method as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein the input/output module registering operation comprises: 
 selecting the specific input/output module for generating the UI to be used in the future by the one of the respective users, as a selected input/output module;    determining whether the selected input/output module is present in the input/output module storing unit of the internal UI support module;    if the selected input/output module is present, writing a condition ID of the one of the respective users and information on the selected input/output module in the input/output module selecting unit; and    if the selected input/output module is not present, requesting the selected input/output module through an external UI support module, determining whether the selected input/output module is present in an input/output module storing unit of the external UI support module, and if the selected input/output module is present, writing the condition ID of the one of the respective users and the information on the selected input/output module in the internal input/output module selecting unit.    
     
     
         32 . The method as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the operation of writing comprises writing the condition ID of the one of the respective users and the information on the selected input/output module in an external input/output module selecting unit.  
     
     
         33 . The method as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein the operation of providing the UI comprises determining, by a data format determining unit, whether specific input/output module is compatible with the internal UI support module, and providing the UI through a default input/output module if the specific input/output module is not compatible with the internal UI support module, or providing the UI through the specific input/output module if the specific input/output module is compatible with the internal UI support module.  
     
     
         34 . The method as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein if the selected input/output module is not present, storing a supplied input/output module in the external input/output module storing unit, and writing the condition ID of the one of the respective users and the information on the supplied input/output module in the internal input/output module selecting unit and the external input/output module selecting unit.